Weather improves in South China

Source: CCTV.com | 02-04-2008 12:59

Monday is the beginning of Spring according to China's lunar calendar. And the weather is becoming milder in the hardest-hit southern regions.

As snow subsides, transportation and electricity are being restored. The China Meteorological Administration says southern China will be temporarily free from snow and rain storms during the first few days of Spring Festival.

Rising temperatures will melt snow and ice on highways and railway lines. However, dense fog blanketed eight provinces and municipalities in southern China this morning. Visibility dropped below 200 meters in some areas in Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Hubei, Jiangxi, Hunan, Chongqing and Guizhou. The temporary relief from freezing weather is good news for areas suffering road closures and power blackouts. There was also a notable drop in flight cancellations on Sunday, but delays were still plentiful.

Railways are operating as many trains as possible, allowing about 100 passenger trains to leave Guangzhou on Sunday, carrying over 120,000 passengers. But nearly one million people are still stranded at Guangzhou Railway Station. Shanghai Railway Station handled 795,000 passengers on Saturday alone, a record high.

Electricity has been partially restored in Chenzhou, one of the worst-hit cities in Hunan. Its 4 million inhabitants have been without electricity and running water for over a week. Still, the government is warning the country to prepare for the worst.

The State Council has ordered beefed-up efforts to clear snow and ice-covered-roads, get stranded passengers home more quickly, and transport more coal and disaster-relief materials. The Ministry of Civil Affairs says the heavy snow in 19 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions claimed at least 60 lives.

The PLA has deployed over 300,000 soldiers to combat the worst winter storm in five decades. The direct economic losses exceed 7.5 billion US dollars.

Editor:Zhang Ning